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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-12-23
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT STEFANOPOULOS HONOURED BY PARTY SUPPORT
[02] TALKS BETWEEN GREEK AND ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTERS
[03] CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO GREEKS OF THE DIASPORA
[04] US DEMOCRAT BACKS RETURN OF PARTHENON MARBLES TO ATHENS
[05] CHANGES PREDICTED IN COURSE OF CYPRUS ISSUE
[06] SPATE OF COLD WEATHER HITS GREECE
[07] NEW YEAR STANDBY AT GREEK HOSPITALS
[08] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN MEMORIAL TO BE CONSTRUCTED
[09] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECT DESIGNS MELBOURNE SKYSCRAPER
[01] PRESIDENT STEFANOPOULOS HONOURED BY PARTY SUPPORT
The unexpected statement in parliament two days ago by the New
Democracy party leader, Kostas Karamanlis, that his party would vote
for Kostis Stefanopoulos as president of the republic has changed the
political landscape and interest has now shifted to when the elections
will be held. Through this surprise move, Mr Karamanlis attempted to
dissociate his party from the election of a president of the republic
and let the prime minister, Kostas Simitis, take responsibility for the
date of the elections. Mr Karamanlis briefed President Stefanopoulos
yesterday on his party's decision to back his re-election. President
Stefanopoulos said he felt honoured that the two major parties
supported his candidacy. Most New Democracy party deputies have
welcomed the decision, although the party's honorary president,
Konstantinos Mitsotakis, initially expressed his displeasure. However,
he issued a statement yesterday indicating his acceptance of the
decision and commenting merely that what was done, was done. The mayor
of Athens, Dimitris Avramopoulos, described the New Democracy party's
decision to back President Stefanopoulos' re-election as positive. Mr
Avramopoulos, who is a former member of the main opposition New
Democracy party, said he had personally adopted this position three
months ago, but added that while holding the office of mayor he did not
wish to be a member of any political party. The government spokesman,
Dimitris Reppas, has also described Mr Karamanlis' move as a positive
development. He said the government viewed Mr Karamanlis' decision as a
vindication of its own policies, but added that it was based on petty
partisan criteria which he claimed was equal to accepting defeat. Mr
Reppas said the elections would take place after the government had
completed its four-year term in office.
[02] TALKS BETWEEN GREEK AND ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTERS
The prime minister, Kostas Simitis, had talks yesterday with his
Albanian counterpart, Ilir Meta, at which they discussed further
progress in bilateral relations and Albania's incorporation in the
Euro-Atlantic structures. Mr Simitis said the cooperation between the
two countries was very good. He added that both countries were pressing
for speedier progress towards implementation of the stability pact in
the Balkans. He announced that an agreement had been signed with
Albania for assistance in its budget and that the two sides had decided
to sign a tourist agreement. Mr Simitis added that issues relating to
Albanians working in Greece were also discussed, and he committed the
Greek government to securing the best possible framework for Albanian
workers in Greece. The Greek prime minister also made it clear that as
far as Greece was concerned, the so-called Tsamides property issue did
not exist. For his part, Mr Meta praised the upgrading of relations
between the two countries and said there would be a further
strengthening of economic and trade cooperation between Greece and
Albania. He claimed the Greek minority in Albania enjoyed all its
rights and added that efforts would be made to deal with a number of
outstanding problems.
[03] CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO GREEKS OF THE DIASPORA
The president of the republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, has issued a
message to Greeks living abroad, with his best wishes for Christmas and
the New Year. Mr Stefanopoulos said the progress of the Greek
communities worldwide, the preservation of the Greek language and
traditions and the unity being hammered out under the auspices of the
church and the Greek communities abroad were a major contribution to,
and hope for, the future of Hellenism.
[04] US DEMOCRAT BACKS RETURN OF PARTHENON MARBLES TO ATHENS
In the United States, New Jersey Democrat Donald Pane has sent a letter
to the newspaper, the Washington Post, announcing his intention to
table an amendment in the Senate in favour of the return of the
Parthenon Marbles to Greece. In the amendment, Mr Pane will call for
the return of the Marbles to the Acropolis within the next four years
so that when the world watches the Olympic Games in Greece in 2004, it
will also see the Marbles returned to their place of origin.
[05] CHANGES PREDICTED IN COURSE OF CYPRUS ISSUE
The Cypriot foreign minister, Ioannis Kassoulidis, has again expressed
his belief that there are changes afoot in the Cyprus dispute, but said
it was too early to make any appraisal a possible shift in Turkey's
position. He pointed out that Greece had won a diplomatic battle and
that Turkey realised Helsinki was just one step on a very long road.
[06] SPATE OF COLD WEATHER HITS GREECE
Heavy snowfalls in the prefectures of Kozani, Florina, Kastoria,
Imathia, Pella and Evritania have caused major problems for traffic on
national and provincial highways in Northern Greece. Ferry services to
the Aegean islands have been cancelled because of gale force winds in
the region. Thessaloniki was blanketed in snow all day yesterday and
the city's airport was closed for several hours. The wave of severe
weather is expected to spread south today.
[07] NEW YEAR STANDBY AT GREEK HOSPITALS
Hospitals throughout Greece will be on call on New Year's Eve to deal
with any problems that might arise as a result of the so-called
"millennium bug" in computer systems. Over 100 appliances used for
medical purposes will be put temporarily out of action as a
precautionary measure.
[08] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN MEMORIAL TO BE CONSTRUCTED
Work is expected to get under way in February on the erection of a
Greek-Australian memorial next to the Monument of the Unknown Soldier,
known as the Shrine of Remembrance, in the centre of Melbourne. It is
thought that the unveiling of the Greek-Australian monument, which is
intended as a tribute to the 841 Australians who died fighting in
Greece during the Second World War, will take place during the
celebrations for the anniversary of the Battle of Crete in May 2000.
[09] GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECT DESIGNS MELBOURNE SKYSCRAPER
The municipality of Melbourne and the ministry of planning in the state
of Victoria have approved the construction of the Eureka Tower on the
banks of the River Yarra in the city centre. The building, which will
be the highest in the southern hemisphere and has a direct connection
with the construction of the Golden Gates at Balarat, will be designed
by the renowned Greek-Australian architect Nondas Katsalides.
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